Super Mates Episode 17: The Monster Squad and Super Friends vs. Monsters!

It’s the final trip to the House of Franklin-Stein, and the Franklins have saved the best for last! Okay, maybe not the best, but certainly the most fun! Chris, Cindy and special guest-son Andrew discuss director Fred Dekker’s love letter to all things monsterific, 1987’s The Monster Squad!

Dracula, the Frankenstein Monster, the Wolfman, the Mummy, and the Creature descend upon 1987 suburbia to bring about an age of never-ending evil. The only thing standing in their way is a bunch of foul-mouthed kids! Along the way the find that Scary German Guys aren’t so scary, monsters CAN be your friends, and most importantly…Wolfman’s got nards!

Then we dig into that dusty longbox one more time, and pull out Super Friends #10. The World’s Greatest Super Heroes rush to the aid of a beautiful blonde woman, plagued by a legion of Monsters! But all isn’t what it seems, and there are lessons to be learned before the end credits roll!

Download directly or via iTunes.

Be sure to let us know what you think! Let your voice be heard! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at supermatespodcast@gmail.com. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook! 

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed! 

Next time: We catch up on feedback, and talk about the comic-related shows of the new fall TV season, including The Flash!

Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein commentary: A Special Halloween Fire and Water/Super Mates Crossover!!!

It's a special bonus podcast! Chris and his Power Records Podcast pal Rob Kelly jaw about one of their favorite flicks, Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein in a joint production between The Fire and Water Podcast and Super Mates!

Check it out here:

Super Mates Episode 16: The Wolf Man and Spider-Man vs. Werewolf by Night!

On our third trip to the House of Franklin-stein, Chris and Cindy are joined by their son Andrew to discuss his (and Chris’) favorite Universal Monster film, 1941’s The Wolf Man!

Lon Chaney, Jr. gives an iconic performance as the doomed Larry Talbot, the prodigal son who returns to his Welsh home only to stumble into a nightmarish world of ancient folklore and gypsy curses! When Larry intervenes to save a life, he is bitten by a wolf, or was it a werewolf? Will Larry convince his father, Sir John (played by Claude Rains) of his plight in time, or is his fate sealed? It’s Greek tragedy with rubber snouts and yak’s fur!!!

Then we rummage once again through our cobwebbed longboxes and dig out Marvel Team-Up #12, featuring Spider-Man and The Werewolf by Night! Our friendly neighborhood wallcrawler is on assignment in San Francisco when he stumbles upon a mad (and we do mean bat-crap crazy) plot involving Marvel’s favorite lycanthrope, Jack Russell, a handful of mind-controlled civilians, and the mysterious magician known as Moondark! Will Spidey survive? Will the Franklins? Listen on!

Download directly or via iTunes.

Be sure to let us know what you think! Let your voice be heard! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at supermatespodcast@gmail.com. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed! 

Next time: It’s our final trip into the House of Franklin-stein, as Chris, Cindy and returning son Andrew dish on the modern revamp of the classic monster rally films: 1987’s The Monster Squad! We’ll discuss Wolfman anatomy, how to successfully redesign classic monsters, and more! Plus, one final tie-in super hero/monster mash-up! It’s a Halloween blow-out!!!

Super Mates Episode 15: Horror of Dracula and Batman vs. … Christopher Lee?

It’s our second trip to the haunted House of Franklin-Stein! This time Chris and Cindy Franklin tackle the Prince of Darkness with Hammer’s 1958 opus, Horror of Dracula! Christopher Lee is pure evil as the blood-sucking count, out for revenge against those who would dare oppose him. Peter Cushing is the screen’s best Van Helsing (don’t even TRY to argue about it), dedicated to ending his unholy reign of terror once and for all!

Then the Super Mates venture into the comics crypt for a look at Detective Comics #455. Batman and Alfred run afoul of a clever vampire, who bears a striking resemblance to a certain actor known for wearing fake fangs! It’s Batman’s Adventure in Hammer-Land! What did our intrepid couple think of it? Will Cindy poke stake holes through it?

Download directly or via iTunes.

Be sure to let us know what you think! Let your voice be heard! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at supermatespodcast@gmail.com. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed! 

Next time: It’s part three of The House of Franklin-Stein! Chris and Cindy are joined by their son Andrew to discuss the sad tale of their favorite Universal Monster….Larry Talbot, aka The Wolf Man!!! Grab your silver-headed cane and join the hunt!

Super Mates Episode 14: The Bride of Frankenstein and Superman vs. Dracula and Frankenstein

Welcome to the House of Franklin-stein! It’s part one of our blood-curdling horror series, where Chris and Cindy Franklin take a look at some of their favorite classic horror films, and comics featuring super heroes vs. legendary monsters!

First up is 1935’s masterpiece, Bride of Frankenstein! Boris Karloff returns as the monster, and he demands a mate! Colin Clive is back as reluctant Dr. Henry Frankenstein, forced to return to his mad experiments at the insistence of his own creation, and the devilish Dr. Pretorius. Both are after an Eve for the monster’s Adam. That’s where the Bride, played by Elsa Lanchester comes in! It’s a hair-raising, hissing film experience brought to you by the original master of the macabre, James Whale. Join the Super Mates for a lively discussion on Universal’s finest hour!

Then it’s off to the dusty longboxes, deep in the House of Franklin-stein to pull out Superman #344. The cover by Jose Luis Garcia Lopez (Praise Be His Name) promises a spine-tingling throw-down between the Man of Steel, the Prince of Darkness, and the Modern Prometheus. Does the actual story live up to the hype? It’s by Paul Levitz, Len Wein and Curt Swan…what do you think? 

Download directly or via iTunes.

Be sure to let us know what you think! Let your voice be heard! We’d love to read your comments in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at supermatespodcast@gmail.com. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed! 

Next time: It’s part two of The House of Franklin-Stein! Jump into blood-soaked color with Hammer’s Horror of Dracula! Christopher Lee is one bad-arse vampire, and Peter Cushing is so good as Van Helsing he makes Hugh Jackman cry! Plus, a super hero comic that ties into this movie in a very cool and unexpected way! Be there!

Super Mates Episode 13: Guardians, State of the Comic Book Movie, and Your Feedback!

In this episode, Chris and Cindy Franklin gush about the Guardians of the Galaxy, and that segues into discussion on the state of the comic book movie. Where they’ve been, where they are at, and where they are possibly going. Can Marvel Studios do no wrong? Is DC/WB finally getting on track? Will Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice shock and awe us?

Then it’s time to dig into the Super Mates Mail Bag for more feedback from you, our fantastic listeners! Topics include: How bad was that 70s Spidey TV movie? How evil were the Super Enemies? How right were the Justice Lords? Just who is Donna Troy, anyway? And, how does Cindy manage to poke holes in every airtight story she reads?

Download directly or subscribe via iTunes

Be sure to let us know what you think! Let your voice be heard! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at supermatespodcast@gmail.com. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed! 

Next time: It’s part one of our Halloween Horror Series, The House of Franklin-Stein! Join us for discussion of the Universal Classic, The Bride of Frankenstein! Plus, one of your favorite super heroes takes on famous monsters!

Super Mates Episode 12: Who is Donna Troy? and San Diego Comic Con News

Cindy and Chris Franklin discuss some comic-related movie and toy news from the recent San Diego Comic Con, including the teaser trailer and other reveals for Batman v. Superman: The Dawn of Justice. Also some news on another possible DC hero coming to the screen (if you smell the magic word he may or may not be cooking) and some new merchandise from the soon-to-finally-be-on-DVD-and-BluRay 66 Batman TV series.

Then it’s off to the topic at hand; the classic story “Who is Donna Troy?” by Marv Wolfman, George Perez and Romeo Tanghal from New Teen Titans #38, Jan. 1984. Robin uses his detective skills to finally solve the mysteries of Wonder Girl’s buried past. It’s a private, personal story that stands out amongst all the great Titans tales spun during this monumental era. What did the Franklins think of it? Did Cindy use her mutant power to find a plot hole in this long-lauded tale? Listen and find out!

Download directly or subscribe via iTunes

Special thanks to Glen Cadigan for his excellent Titans Companion books from TwoMorrows, which is an invaluable resource on all things Titans!

Be sure to let us know what you think! Let your voice be heard! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at supermatespodcast@gmail.com. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

 

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed! http://www.fireandwaterpodcast.blogspot.com/

Next time: The state of comic book movies; where we’ve been, where we are, and what’s to come. Plus, your feedback!